Nauru is one of the world’s smallest and most geographically isolated sovereign states, comprising a single island in the western Pacific Ocean. Formerly known as Pleasant Island, Nauru was administered by Australia for the first half of the twentieth century before achieving independence in 1968. Nauru has the worst human development indicators in the sub- region and the highest incidence of food poverty. One in four people live below the basic needs poverty line.117
The majority of Nauru’s 10,000 people live along the narrow coastal belt, the only land available for housing. Nauru’s natural growth rate of 2.7 per cent is partially offset by emigration. Adolescent births are second only to the Marshall Islands. Infant, child, and adult mortality rates remain high and Nauru has the shortest life expectancy of any country in the Pacific.118
In the 1970s and 1980s Nauru had one of the highest per capita incomes in the world because of a booming phosphate extraction industry. However, reduction in global demand for phosphate and the mismanagement of phosphate royalty funds caused the near collapse of the financial system, leading to a sharp decline in domestic affluence. The dramatic and sudden shift in socioeconomic conditions reduced the country’s ability to provide adequate social infrastructure and services, especially for the most vulnerable.119 In the past decade Nauru has faced severe financial crises and political instability, which has deterred private sector development and foreign investment.120
Like many small island developing states, Nauru has a large public sector, narrow resource base, low human and financial capital, and high susceptibility to climate change. The economy relies on the re-established phosphate mining sector, processing of asylum seekers in the Australian Government’s Regional Processing Centre, and fishing licenses. Nauru also participates in the Australian Seasonal Workers Programme. GDP growth is extremely volatile and vulnerable to shocks. In the medium term it is likely that Nauru will be largely dependent on development assistance to maintain and improve delivery of basic services.121
More than 1,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including women and children, have been transferred by Australia to Nauru. The majority now live within the community and use local services. Many experience serious mental health issues. It remains unclear how long these people will remain in Nauru.
Nauru imports staple foods and water. Land degradation from strip mining has destroyed around 80 per cent of the island, severely limiting the potential for agriculture. The island is also located in the dry belt of the equatorial zone where rainfall is extremely variable. Water security is a pressing issue for Nauru due to an ageing desalination plant and limited water storage capacity. Future projections for climate change predict hotter daily temperatures, higher sea levels, and further rainfall irregularity.
The Nauruan population is relatively young with 39 per cent under 15 years of age. One quarter of children under 5 are stunted.122 Free primary school education, including the provision of textbooks, has resulted in a net increase in primary enrolments and gender parity in education. At the secondary level there are concerns about the lagging enrolment rate of boys.123
Thirty per cent of women surveyed have been sexually abused in childhood and nearly half of all Nauruan women have experienced intimate partner violence.124 Information about women’s economic participation is lacking. The maternal mortality ratio is unknown. Life expectancy rates are stagnant due to high rates of premature mortality from NCDs. Tobacco and alcohol use is high and Nauru has one of the highest rates of adult diabetes in the region. The significant burden of NCDs places major strains on the health system, the community, and national productivity.
Treaty Ratifications: CEDAW, CAT, CRC, CRPD, OP-CAT, ICADS, CSICH
Resident and Non-resident Agencies: FAO, IOM, OHCHR, UNDP, UN Environment, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNISDR, UN Women, WHO
Coordination: Nauru Joint Presence Office
Nauru National Sustainable Development Strategy 2005-2025 “Partnership for Quality of Life”
- 116With particular emphasis on Pacific-to-Pacific cooperation.
- 117The State of Human Development in the Pacific: A report on vulnerability and exclusion in a time of rapid change, UNDP, 2014
- 118Population and Development Profiles: Pacific Islands, UNFPA, 2014
- 119Review of the Child Protection System in Nauru, UNICEF and Ministry of Home Affairs, Nauru, 2015.
- 120National Sustainable Development Strategy 2009 Revision, Government of Nauru.
- 121Review of the Child Protection System in Nauru, UNICEF and Ministry of Home Affairs, Nauru, 2015.
- 122UNICEF Pacific Based Data Demographic and Health Survey
- 123Pacific Regional MDGs Tracking Report, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 2
- 124The Nauru Family Health and Support Study on Family Violence (FHS).
| Alignment of country development priorities | ||
| UNPS Outcomes | Country Development Strategy
Priority/Pillar |
Identified Priorities 2018-2022 |
| Outcome 1:
Climate Change, Disaster Resilience, and Environmental Protection |
Cross-cutting Sector Goals | · Adopt an integrated approach to addressing
environmental issues such as the development of policies and environmental acts. |
| Outcome 2: Gender Equality | Cross-cutting Sector Goals | · Develop legislative processes to address cross- cutting issues such as gender. |
| Outcome 3:
Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Empowerment |
Economic Sector Goals
Infrastructure Sector Goals |
· Diversify the economy beyond the phosphate Industry to other areas such as fisheries.
· Expand the UN presence in Nauru to focus on prioritised operations. · Refurbish damaged water pump and tank for the brackish water system. |
| Outcome 4:
Equitable Basic Services |
Social and Community Sector Goals | · Support the implementation of a National Health Strategy.
· Implement the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, improve infrastructure to support people with disabilities. · Increase capacity and awareness surrounding women’s health. · Mainstream gender across all sectors. · Increase support to respond to underage pregnancies. · Prioritise protection of children by helping to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, boost human capacity, support the development of a referral system and child protection laws. · Support healthy lifestyles to combat NCDs. · Invest in youth sport and wellbeing. · Encourage the participation of all people in Nauru in consultative processes. · Increase the capacity of local vocational training and education. · Prioritise training opportunities for women. · Include the UN Women Entrepreneurship Programme in vocational training programmes to boost economic growth. · Establish a basic policy requirement or a contractual agreement for expatriate experts to train and build the capacity of local people and minimise reliance on foreign workers. |
| Outcome 5:
Governance and Community Engagement |
· Strengthen M&E frameworks with realistic timeframes.
· Partnerships: Strengthen links with international organizations, such as the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, to assist Nauru to adopt international conventions, including the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, and C188-Convention on Fishing Work. |
|
| Outcome 6:
Human Rights |
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